Ina Charlene Goldberg Edelman, known to her family and friends as Charlene, passed away peacefully, March 27, 2025, surrounded by her children.
Charlene was born on October 5, 1945, to Dr. Benjamin and Celia Goldberg in Akron, Ohio. She loved all forms of the arts, which were her life-long passion.  

Charlene graduated from John R. Buchtel High School in 1963 and attended the University of Toledo, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education. After graduation, she taught third grade at Stickney Elementary School, while pursuing her master’s degree. During that time, she met David Edelman and they went on to marry and have three children, Shani, Aaron, and Danny. They resided in Lincolnshire until 1984, when Charlene moved the family to Sylvania Township. Charlene was an excellent taxi driver for many years, shuttling her children to and from horseback riding and dance lessons, sports practices and games, and theater rehearsals. In addition, Charlene volunteered at Flower Hospital in Sylvania, and was a member of the Jewish Community Center of Toledo, Temple Shomer Emunim, the Sisterhood and Hadassah. She was an avid collector of art and rare books, and enjoyed attending the annual Crosby Garden and Ann Arbor art festivals.

    Charlene was beloved by everyone for her larger than life personality. She was renowned for her kindness, compassion, selflessness and generosity—but most of all, for her wit and bawdy sense of humor. She embodied “midwestern nice” with a dash of good natured mischief.  

    Charlene was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Celia Goldberg, and her beloved brother, Dr. Henry Goldberg. She is survived by her children: Shani Abernathy (Richard); Aaron Edelman (Diane); and Danny Edelman (Anne), as well as her loving sister-in-law Karen Goldberg, and grandchildren: Joshua; Louis; Benjamin; Carina; Brayden; Emberly; and, Oaklynn; her nephew Marc Goldberg (Shannon), niece Cydney Familian (Seth), and great nieces Grace and Tess.

        The family wishes to acknowledge the exceptional care and compassion Charlene received at Otterbein Sunset Village in Sylvania, and the staff of Ashanti Hospice.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of American (alzfdn.org) or Susan G. Komen (komen.org).  

    A funeral service will be held at Wisniewski and Wick Funeral Home, 2426 N. Reynolds Road, Toledo, Ohio at 10:00 am on Wednesday April 2nd.  Charlene will be laid to rest beside her parents at Rose Hill Burial Park, 3653 W. Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44333.